This was the beginning of real hardship.

The transport had either been a common freighter or a cattle ship.

Whatever had been its employment before being converted into a transport, I am sure of one thing, it was neither fit for man nor beast when soldiers were transported in it to Cuba.

The actual carrying capacity of the vessel as a transport was, in my opinion, about 900 soldiers, exclusive of the officers, who, as a rule, surround themselves with every possible comfort, even in actual warfare.

A good many times, as on this occasion, the desire and demand of the officers for comfort worked serious hardships for the enlisted men.